When many of us think of Stetson Hats our minds conjure up images of cowboys, but there is much more to the larger than life head wear than meets the eye.

A Modern Stetson Hat

Where did the idea of a wide brimmed hat such as the Stetson originate? The very first Stetson was engineered when the point was proven that a hat could be made from fur without the tanning process involved. It was a big hat built out on an expedition without any tools to speak off but worn it was. The rest is history. Initially worn as a joke, Stetson’s unusually large hat was worn by the man himself following this particular trip. But he loved this hat. It was large, warm and protected him from the sun and the rain. What more would anyone want from a hat? His hat could even be used to carry water if necessary… a handy accessory to any expedition! Folklore states that a cowboy spotted Mr Stetson wearing this unusually big hat and paid him a price of a five dollar gold piece to take it off his hands.

What the Stetson has always said about the cowboy who wears one is that he is successful and ultimately the “Boss of the Plains” as was the model name of one of the Stetson range. The big Stetson became popular immediately in the West and not surprisingly so. One thing the Stetson does is it captures the imagination!

People who became associated with the Stetson Hat were such legends out West as Buffalo Bill, Annie Oakley and General George Custer who was said to have rode into battle at the battle of Little Big Horn with a Stetson upon his head.

In early advertising, the Stetson was used by a cowboy as a vessel for delivering water to his horse. This image was symbolic of the notion that the cowboy hat was an essential piece of a stockman’s riding gear.

People who bought the Stetson in the nineteenth and early twentieth century wanted a high quality hat whether they worked in the outdoors or in the city. Everyone wore a hat at this time and many continue to wear Stetson hats to this day thanks to a popularity explosion created by screen idols like Indiana Jones!

Not just a name for fantastic hats, Stetson has branched out over the years. Look out in the stores for other Stetson items such as Stetson cologne, luggage and umbrellas!